Identification and field evaluation of the sex pheromone of Apolygus lucorum (Hemiptera: Miridae) in China

Background The plant bug, Apolygus lucorum Meyer-Dur, has begun a resurgence and has become a key pest in cotton in northern China, with the wide-scale adoption of transgenic Bt cotton. We attempted to develop a new approach to the control of this plant bug by identifying and utilizing its sex pheromone. Results Extracts from A. lucorum adults and nymphs were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD) to identify the sex pheromone components. (E)-4-Oxo-2-hexenal and (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate were the major sex pheromone components from females and were also electrophysiology-active towards male antennae. For males, (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal and hexyl butyrate were the major sex pheromone components. These three components, however, were not detected in nymphs. Field tests showed that binary blends of (E)-4-oxo-2-hexenal and (E)-2-hexenyl butyrate at a ratio of 3:2 resulted in trapping the greatest numbers of A. lucorum males. A long-term dispenser was developed by loading the pheromone components dissolved in sunflower oil into polyethylene vials. Further field evaluation showed that the polyethylene dispensers attracted significantly more bugs even when deployed in the field for 5 weeks. Conclusion We identified the sex pheromone of A. lucorum and developed a type of high-efficiency and long-term lure. Our results could expand knowledge of the pheromones of plant bugs, and provide novel technologies to monitor and control this pest. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.